Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-14
HORRORS OF OCEAN LIFE.
A German Ship Goes Ashore OH the yir-
ginia Coast-0yer 20 Lives Lost.
Four Men of the Life-saving Grew Per-
ish- Bitter Cold Weather Prevails.
THE SHIP WRECK.

1t is One of the Most Disastrous Ever Known
on the yirginian Coast-The Particulars.
NORFOLK, Va, Jan. 11.-One of the most
disastrous ship wrecks which has ever
occurred on the Virginia coast happened
at two o'clock this morning near Little
island life saving station, fourteen miles
south of Cape Henry. Not less that 20
and probably more, lives were lost,
among them five of the life saving men
who in the discharge of their duties were
drowned. The morning was bitterly cold
and binding snow storm prevailed with
the wind blowing { gale from the north
east. During lull, the life saving
patrol from the Little island life saving
station sighted large ship stranded on
a bar. about 900 yards from shore When
he saw the vessel he was going to meet
the patrol from Dam Neck station and
exchange checks, showing that both pa
trolmen had been to the end of their beat.
The Dam Neck patrol was only few
yards distant whsn the vessel was sighted
and both fired rockets to notify the crew
of the stranded ship that she had been
seen. They hurried back to their respec-
tive stations and gave the alarm. In a
a little while crews with life boats and
apparatus we're abreast of the wreck and
the boom of a mortar announced that a
line had been shot out to the Inflated
vessel.
IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL,
and the second was fired with like result.
After firing six unsuccessful shots the
life saving men determined to sbrave
the furious sea and the death which
seemed certain to await their venture.
The word of command being given by
Captain Belanza, of the life saving sta
ton, No. 4, known as little Island, six
of the most expert and daring boatmen
manned each boat. At his command
the men gave way with a will and in a mo-
ment both boats we're breasting the fu-
rious waves. They reached the ship in
safety and four of the ships crew were
taken in life boat and ten in the ships
boat which was launched for the purpose.
The boats were headed for the shore and
not word was spoken for each man rea-
lized the awful peril which surrounded
them. With steady pull the two boats
were making good headway for the shore
when wave of great power struck both
boats
CAPSIzING THEM INSTANTLY,
and pitching their twenty-five occupants
into tho boiling sea. Then began des-
perate struggle for life, and with many of
the men it was prolonged one. The
Mortified life savers on the beach were
utterly powerless to assist either their
drowning comrades or the unfortu-
nate strangers. The drowning men
were carried southwark by the seas,
and some of them were washed ashore.
AS they came within reach they were
picked up and endeavors were made to
revive them, in two instances, with sue
cess, although one of the two was badly
injured. The vessel is the German ship
Elizabeth, Capt. Halberstadt, from HIN
burg to Baltimore, and not one of her
crew survives her .yr-ck. Her cargo is
unhnown, do hig 5eas have thus far pre-
vented any attempt to reach her. 1t is
thought she is leaking badly, and at sun
set her masts were thought to be giving
way.
OF the life saving crew the following
were lost: Abel Belanza, captain of No.
4, known as Little Island; j. W. Land,
same station; Geo. W. Stone. same; j. A.
Belanza, of Dam Neck station, and broth
er of Abel; Joseph Sprattley, of Dam
Neck. John Ethoridge and Frank Tel
ford, of No. 4, were washed ashore and
resuscitated, but Etheridge is so BADLY
injured that it is thought he cannot re
cover